Bearkat Athletics Mission Sam Houston State University is com- mitted to the concept that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the univer- sity’s educational enterprise. The department of athletics recognizes that the athletics program must be sup- portive of the university’s mission, which is to inspire learning through excellence in teaching, to stimulate creativity, to conduct scholarly research and to direct signifi cant institutional resources to the community it serves. In keeping with these directives, the department of athletics understands that its primary mission is to develop student- athletes as complete individuals and educated citizens who are fully prepared to contribute positively to society. The department of athletics recog- nizes that it receives direction from the President of the university in the admin- The Southland Conference men’s basketball “Student-Athlete of the Year” the past three seasons has istration of the athletic program. The been a Bearkat with Ryan Bright (left) winning in 2007 and 2008 and Barkley Falkner in 2009. department of athletics will provide and support cultural diversity and provide for equitable opportunities for minorities BEARKAT ATHLETICS BY THE NUMBERS and women. The department of athletics measures success in its ability to establish Sam Houston State accomplishments as a member of programs that support the mission of Sam the NCAA Division I Southland Conference: Houston State University. 7 Southland Conference post-season tournament Strategic Goals “Most Valuable Players” The Department of Athletics will 8 Southland individual sport “Student Athletes of the Year” provide the best possible entertainment 9 Southland Conference post-season tournament and image for our students, faculty, staff , championships alumni and community by competing 14 NCAA Division I tournament appearances on the Division I level through winning 22 Southland Conference regular athletic teams. season team championships The Department of Athletics will pro- 32 Southland Conference vide an environment for student-athletes “Players of the Year” necessary to enhance graduation through 44 NCAA Division I All-Americans classroom learning experiences that are 610 All-Southland Conference selections in 16 sports conducive to a life skills learning experi- ence on campus and in the community. The Department of Athletics will pro- vide an environment for all staff neces- sary to attract, develop and retain quality personnel. The Department of Athletics will provide an environment for our alumni, community and friends of the university that encourages active participation in the department programs and develop- ment activities. Irina Sotnikova earned both Southland Conference women’s tennis “Player of the Year” honors and “Student-Athlete of the Year” honors during the 2009 season. 34 www.gobearkats.com Sports excitement at Sam Houston State Sam Houston State University competes at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports as a member of the Southland Conference, bringing the fun and excitement of intercol- legiate athletes to the Huntsville campus. Men’s intercollegiate sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track & fi eld, and outdoor track & fi eld. Women’s sports are basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track & fi eld, outdoor track & fi eld, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. In the fall of 2010, Sam Houston will begin competition in women’s bowling, increasing the number of intercollegiate sports to 17. Three of the past fi ve years, the SHSU athletic program as ranked as the best in the Southland Conference, winning the SLC Commissioner’s Cup all-sports trophy. Since moving up to the NCAA Division I level in 1986, Sam Houston has participated in the national playoff s 14 times including consecutive appearances in the last three Sam Houston State has placed more in- Eight times in the past four years, NCAA Division I baseball tournaments. dividuals on the Southland Commissioner’s Bearkats have been recognized as the out- The Bearkats have won 22 Southland Honor Roll (student-athletes with an overall standing student-athlete in their individual Conference team championships with 10 grade point average of 3.0 or better) than sports. Winners of the SLC “Student-Athlete of those SLC trophies earned in the past any other league member during the past of the Year” honors have been Ryan Bright six years. In addition, SHSU has won eight fi ve sports seasons. For the last six consecu- (2007 and 2008 men’s basketball), Stephen Southland post-season tournament titles. tive semesters, SHSU student-athletes have Prihoda (2007 baseball), Lata Assudani While competing at a high level on the combined to produce a department grade (2007 women’s tennis), Jennie Sewell (2007 playing fi eld, the Bearkats also have proven point average (GPA) of 2.90 or above, a women’s track and fi eld), Jennifer Heinz themselves tops in the Southland Confer- mark higher than the GPA of the university’s (2008 women’s golf), Barkley Falkner (2009 ence in the classroom. overall student population. men’s basketball) and Irina Sotnikova (2009 women’s tennis). Sam Houston State University annually draws regional and national media atten- tion through televised athletic contests. Bearkat football and basketball games have been featured in nationally televised games on ESPN2 and CBS. Each year, SHSU games are telecast on the Southland Conference TV network. The university boasts one of the fi nest athletic complexes in the Southwestern that serve as the site of both regular season competition and post-season tournament action. Home athletic events are held at Bow- ers Stadium (football), Johnson Coliseum (basketball and volleyball), Don Sanders Stadium (baseball), softball (Bearkat Softball Complex), tennis (McAdams Tennis Center), track and fi eld (York Track Center) and soc- cer (Pritchett Field). News, schedules, ticket information and opportunities to watch live video of Bearkat sports events are available on the SHSU athletic web site at www.gobearkats.com. www.gobearkats.com 35 Bobby Williams Director of Athletics When Bobby Williams became the Center, Don Sanders Stadium (baseball), Bearkat Softball Stadium Bearkats’ director of athletics on and the SHSU golf practice facility at Raven’s Nest Golf Course. With April 29, 1998, he set a goal for the new marketing strategies, Williams and his staff have increased both program - to win the Southland campus and community attendance at all Bearkat intercollegiate ath- Conference Commissioner’s Cup letics events and increased revenue generated from outside univer- symbolic of the league’s all-sports sity sources from $600,000 to $2.4 million. championship for both men’s and Under his direction, the Bearkat Learning Enhancement Center, women’s sports combined. Sam located in the Bowers Stadium Field House, opened in the fall of 1997. Houston has won the Commis- The facility allows Bearkat student-athletes access both to modern sioner’s Cup not once but three computers and to assistance from academic tutors. During his seven times (2005, 2006 and 2007). No years as assistant athletic director, Williams’ duties included NCAA other Southland university has won the Cup three years in a row. compliance, game management for home athletic contests, schedul- Williams, who had served Sam Houston as an athletic administrator ing, facilities, tickets, marketing and concessions. As an assistant foot- and a coach since 1982, was interim director of athletics for the 1997- ball coach, he tutored fi ve cornerbacks who played in the National 98 school year. He was assistant director of athletics for seven years Football League. and an assistant football coach for nine years. “Becoming a director of athletics was a lifetime goal. I have always In May, 2005, Williams received the General Robert R. Neyland been a goal oriented person,” said Williams. “As a secondary coach, Outstanding Athletic Director Award at the All-American Football we set and met important goals on teams that ranked among the na- Foundation’s 70th annual Banquet of Champions. In June, 2008, he tion’s defensive leaders. As an administrator, we set goals such as rais- was presented the AstroTurf Athletics Director of the Year “Football ing our department grade point averages, which we accomplished. Championship Subdivision West Region” award. Williams now serves “As director of athletics, we have set goals. We have strived to bring as a member of the NCAA Leadership Council. this department to the forefront in computer technology, to improve During his 12 years as athletic director, Sam Houston has achieved our athletes’ academic standing and retention rates and to increase unprecedented successes at the NCAA Division I level, including: our revenue through fund raising and monies generated from bigger Three Southland Commissioner’s Cups and two SLC Men’s All- crowds at games. Sports Trophies (2000 and 2007) “Three of the past four years, we achieved our most important goal Highest NCAA Division I football championship subdivision fi nal -- winning the Southland Commissioner’s Cup All-Sports Trophy. Not national ranking (4th in 2004) only does this achievement prove that each of our sports teams is Highest NCAA Division I men’s basketball RPI fi nal ranking (2003) vital to our program, but also it demonstrates the importance and First votes in Associated Press NCAA Division I men’s basketball contributions of every student athlete. Our staff ’s eff orts will continue national poll (2008) to be directed toward higher goals as we strive to make the Sam Two NCAA Division I football playoff appearances, reaching quar- Houston experience the best it can be for our students.” terfi nals in 2001 and semifi nals in 2004 Williams played wide receiver at Northbrook High School in Hous- NCAA Division I national playoff berths in men’s basketball ton. He was a starter at wide receiver for the Rice Owls. He earned his (2003), softball (2007) and baseball (2007, 2008 and 2009). Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 1981 and his Master 13 Southland Conference team championships including football of Arts from Rice a year later.